Researchers at Brandeis University
, in Waltham, Mass., say doing these activities may provide the protection from memory decline and dementia associated with having a college degree.

“The lifelong benefits of higher education for memory in later life are quite impressive, but we do not clearly understand how and why these effects last so long,” lead author Margie Lachman said in a statement.

“Among individuals with low education, those who engaged in reading, writing, attending lectures, doing word games or puzzles once or week or more had memory scores similar to people with more education.”